Black Dutch

English

Alternative forms

• black Dutch

Etymology

In reference to Germans, a mangled calque of German schwarze Deutsche (“black Germans”) under influence from Dutch.

Noun

Black Dutch (plural Black Dutch)

1. (US, obsolete or historical) A European with dark hair, eyes, and skin, especially one from or claiming to be from Germany or the Netherlands, sometimes (derogatory, ethnic slur) with disparaging racial overtones.
   • 1875 December, American Bibliopolist, p. 260:

     The same usage still prevails among the vulgar as in the phrases, ‘black Irish’, ‘black Dutch’, describing certain well known types of Celts and Teutons (Hollanders, probably), differing widely from the prevailing type of either race in respect of their black eyes and hair, and gypsy-like, tawny complexions.

   • 1997 March, James Pylant, "In Search of the Black Dutch", American Genealogy Magazine, Vol. 12, No. 1:

     There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch" were swarthy-complexioned Germans. Anglo-Americans loosely applied the term to any dark-complexioned American of European descent... By the mid-19th century, the term had become an American colloquialism; a derogative term for anything denoting one's small stature, dark coloring, working-class status, political sentiments or anyone of foreign extract.

2. (US, obsolete or historical) A person passing for such a European, especially Native Americans or people from multiracial families.
   • 1997 March, James Pylant, "In Search of the Black Dutch", American Genealogy Magazine, Vol. 12, No. 1:

     There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch" were swarthy-complexioned Germans... The term was adopted [by some] as an attempt to disguise Indian or infrequently, tri-racial descent.

3. A Dutch citizen with sub-Saharan African ancestry.

   Synonym: Afro-Dutch

Related terms

• black Irish, Pennsylvania Dutch